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More Lashes for Oshiomhole as Oyegun Questions His Capacity to Run Political Party
A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, has criticised the leadership style of his successor and incumbent National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
According to him, Oshiomhole lacks the temperament and capacity to run a political party.
Odigie-Oyegun stated this in his response to a communique issued by the South-South APC State Chairmen, who blamed him for allegedly being the cause of conflicts within the party.
The Deputy National Chairman (North), Lawal Shuaibu, had in a May 28 letter, asked Oshiomhole to resign for allegedly running the APC like a private fiefdom.
He had alleged that many decisions attributed to the National Working Committee were personal decisions of the national chairman but imposed on the party without formal meeting.
But in defence of Oshiomhole, the six state chairmen who asked Shuaibu to apologise to the national chairman within seven days, blamed Odigie-Oyegun for the troubles in the party.
They claimed that it was the problems created by Odigie-Oyegun, that fuelled the unfortunate situation.
However, in a statement by his Public Affairs Adviser, Ray Morphy, in Abuja on Sunday, Odigie-Oyegun said the claims of the state chairmen were “ludicrous and infantile.”
He described the statement as an attempt to justify the failings of the party under Oshiomhole.
He said, “Oshiomhole fails because he lacks the temperament that is required to run a political party. He lacks the capacity to manage the different interests and tendencies that constitute a political party.
“He engages his mouth before engaging his mind, so he offends party members. So, how does that constitute traps by Oyegun, the erstwhile chairman?”
Odigie-Oyegun said Shuaibu in his letter had confirmed that Oshiomhole was running the party without recourse to the NWC.
He added, “He acts in direct opposite of decisions taken by NWC. No minutes of NWC meetings which, in any event, take place outside the party secretariat.
“How would you not have crises in states with the confusion that Oshiomhole created when he gave the states freedom to choose their methods of choosing candidates for elections?
“Much of the crisis in states arose out of sheer incapacity on the part of the current chairman. How does this Oshiomhole’s incapacity become traps by Oyegun?”
Giving reasons for the crisis in the party, Odigie-Oyegun said many party men were disappointed because of the unfairness and injustice meted to them during the primaries.
“Only a bad carpenter quarrels with his tools. Indeed Oshiomhole is degrading and demarketing the party. Rather than seek to bring more people on board, he is chasing people out of the party with his agbero style of engagement,” he added.
But reacting, the Akwa Ibom State APC Chairman, Ini Okopido, said the six South-South APC state chairmen issued the communique stating their position on the matter in order to save the party from disintegration.
He said, “Anybody that loves the party should be interested in strengthening it. Anybody who wants the success of the party and the government should believe in building a solid foundation.
“It is under that atmosphere that the party can bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians.”
The Punch
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The Christmas/End of Year party of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA) was filled with excitement, pomp and pageantry as the 84-86 set celebrated its 40th anniversary of leaving the school.
The highlight of the event was the donation of N20 million from the set’s endowment to serve as a seed fund for the national body’s endowment through the National ICOBA. The donation was received by Mr Femi Banwo, President ICOBA International and Mr Kunle Elebute, Chairman ICOBA National Endowment Committee
The 84-86 set’s Board of Trustees Endowment Committee had established an independent endowment in 2009 with a vision to create a lasting legacy for the set. Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the ICOBA 84-86 Board of Trustees and Endowment Committee, Dr. Falil Ayo Abina, expressed his delight, stating that it was a dream come true.
Dr. Abina explained that one of the core lessons learned at Igbobi College was “self-denial.”
He reminisced about the Self-Denial Fund (SDF), where students were taught to contribute their weekly “widow’s mite” to share with the less privileged in society. Dr. Abina emphasized that when the endowment committee conceived the idea of the endowment 15 years ago, they had this legacy in mind, aiming to serve a purpose greater than self.
The donation of N20 million to the national endowment is expected to inspire others within the alumni and other school alumni associations to follow suit.
This generous donation is the first in ICOBA’s history and arguably in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
The 13-member endowment committee, also include Demola Ipaye, Fola Laguda, Gbenga Aina, Demola Oladeinde, Jimi Onanuga, Abayomi Alabi, Kwami Adadevoh, Bayo Ayoade, Tunde Sadare, Wole Ogunbajo, Tunji Akinwummi, and Lanre Olusola, worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality and it was indeed mission accomplished for the ‘Nobles Nigerians ‘ as Igbobians are called.
The recent US presidential election should be praised for its credibility and peaceful conduct. The election serves as a model for Nigeria, highlighting the importance of free, fair and transparent polls, according to the publisher of online platform, Bluefames Media, Mr. Victor Udoh
The US election saw Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, emerge victorious over Democrat, vice president Kamala Harris. Trump secured 270 electoral votes, surpassing Harris’s votes.
While congratulating Trump on his victory, Udoh noted that the election’s smooth process, devoid of issues like ballot box snatching, violence and technical glitches.
In contrast, Nigeria’s electoral process often faces challenges, including delays, vote-buying and disputes over results, he lamented. Udoh emphasized the need for Nigeria to learn from the US example, ensuring credible elections that reflect the will of the people.
He said: “Nigerians and the international community monitored the outcomes of the US election. You could see that the US electoral process demonstrates the value of credible and peaceful elections, which experience Nigeria can draw lessons from to improve its own electoral system.
“By embracing transparency, accountability and peaceful conduct, Nigeria can strengthen its democracy and ensure governance that truly represents the people’s will.”
Udoh, a publicist and motivator, pointed out that learning from the US experience, Nigeria can address its electoral weaknesses and foster a more robust democracy, which in turn, can lead to better governance, economic growth and improved living standards for Nigerians.
“Nigeria must prioritize electoral reform and transparency to ensure that its citizens’ voices are heard and valued,” he stressed.
He, however, warned that “a second Trump term may have significant implications for global issues like dollar value, immigration, energy and geopolitical stability.”
Victor Udoh is the publisher of online platform, Bluefames Media
